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Bern cantonal police have opened an investigation after a series of demonstrations in the Swiss capital last week turned violent.

Protestors clashed with police during three unauthorized demonstrations on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of last week which followed the eviction of a group of squatters from a building in Bern on Wednesday.

Police are now asking for witnesses with photo or video evidence of the events to come forward as part of the investigation into criminal behaviour during the events, including damage to property, threats against police and endangering life, Bern cantonal police said in a statement.

Protesters retaliated against police on Wednesday as they proceeded with the eviction of squatters from a property on Effingerstrasse.

Five police officers received medical treatment in hospital after the squatters threw paint pots and firecrackers from the building.

A subsequent protest in the Schützenmatte area of Bern on Saturday evening degenerated into a violent confrontation between protestors and police after police blocked off the path of the demonstration.

Protestors threw missiles at officers, used laser beams to blind them and set up burning barricades. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.